Young, Nash can't lift Lakers over Blazers

LOS ANGELES – Their most exciting player had his best performance of the season. Their 40-year-old point guard? He showed no signs of the maladies that have kept him out of the lineup for most of the season and, instead, looked more like the two-time former MVP the Lakers hoped he would.

But these reasons, of course, are not enough for a win. Not for a Lakers team that has been repeatedly knocked down by injuries, and certainly not against one of the top teams in the Western Conference.

The Lakers lost, 124-112, to the Portland Trail Blazers (49-27), despite a season-high 40 points from Nick Young and 10 points and 10 assists from Steve Nash.

The Lakers (25-49), who won in Portland on March 3 on a buzzer beater by Wesley Johnson, were looking for their third straight win at Staples Center, after topping New York and the Phoenix Suns. And while they managed to hang around to trail, 63-61, at halftime, they could not overcome big performances from the Blazers two superstars.

Nash was a gametime decision because of nerve issues that limited him to 12 games this season, and then late in the second quarter suffered a twisted left ankle.

“He’s amazing,” Coach Mike D’Antoni said. “I said, ‘I guess when you keel over we’ll cart you off and know you need a substitute.’ … You can see he’s got something.”

Young made his first eight shots and finished 15 of 26 from the field, including 6 of 13 on 3-pointers.

In his first appearance after missing four games because of bouts of vertigo, Pau Gasol was limited to 9 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists in 28 minutes.

Chris Kaman finished with 12 points and 6 rebounds in his first start alongside Gasol since Nov. 10, as D’Antoni continued to find a working combination in the frontcourt. The coach had steadfastly refused to play the two big men together, saying their games were too similar and typically left Kaman, a former All-Star, on the bench unless Gasol was injured or ill.

But Gasol’s absence brought things to a head, as Kaman scored 28 points and added 17 rebounds in Sunday’s win over Phoenix.

“It’s a frustrating situation for a lot of people,” said Kaman, who has consistently expressed frustration with his role. “I think Coach, for as much heat as he takes, I don’t think he has had a fair shot at it either with all of the injuries. .... Now, people may not agree with the way he does things or his style of play, (but) it’s not about that.”

While D’Antoni said the Lakers didn’t get the defense they would want from the unit, and fell behind both times they went to it, he would likely stick with it Wednesday against Sacramento.

NEW HOME COURT

The Lakers announced before Tuesday’s game plans to build a new practice facility and corporate headquarters, pending final approval by the City of El Segundo of a deal already in place to purchase a five-acre lot near their current facility.

Details of the plan, including a targeted opening date, are scarce, but a new facility would give the Lakers their own building after years of renting space at the Toyota Sports Center. The building, on Nash Street near Grand Avenue in El Segundo, also serves as the practice site for the NHL’s Kings and houses a public ice skating rink.

According to the Lakers, the organization has agreed to purchase an undeveloped five-acre lot from CDC Mar Campus, LLC at the corner of Mariposa Avenue and Douglas Street. It would be part of a development called Elevon at Campus El Segundo.

The facility would also serve as the home arena of the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers Development League affiliate.

NOTES

Portland forward Meyers Leonard was called for a flagrant foul 2 on Kendall Marshall with 36.9 seconds remaining and was ejected. … Kent Bazemore added 17 points for the Lakers. … Neither Jordan Hill or Wesley Matthews played in the loss.